The New York Times is reporting that the director of the FBI has asked the Justice Department to publicly reject President Donald Trump's assertion that Barack Obama as president ordered the tapping of Trump's phones during the presidential campaign.

The Times reports on its website that senior American officials tell the newspaper that FBI Director James Comey has argued that the claim is false and must be corrected. No such statement has been issued by the Justice Department.

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A U.S. official tells The Associated Press that the FBI has asked the Justice Department to dispute allegations made on Twitter by Trump that Obama as president ordered the tapping of Trump's phones during the presidential campaign

The New York Times reports that Comey has argued that the claim is false and has to be corrected. The Times reports that the officials say Comey wants the claim rejected publicly because it falsely insinuates that the FBI broke the law.

So far, the Justice Department has not said anything in reaction to Trump's tweets on Saturday, in which he made the wiretapping allegations. A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment on the Times report.

Trump made the allegation of tapped phones at Trump Tower in a series of tweets Saturday but cited no evidence. An Obama spokesman says the allegation is false.